Community leaders are important in message dissemination in various communities and therefore, they should be prioritised. The community leaders are also farmers and this is important in that this will change the way they perceive farming and the use of antimicrobials.
The use of social media remains important to cover the younger generation of farmers and to connect with all consumers.
We will need to also to target veterinary advisors like veterinarians and para-veterinarians, because they are the first like of defence in animal health and production related interventions.
We need to have social scientist to be part of the research on AMR. We also need to collaborate more with everyone in the media space, coaches and speakers to make this message easier to the public to understand. Sometime scientist deliver message in way that common people find it difficult to connect with.
We need to get public figures also to be involved as ambassadors of the antimicrobial use and resistance programme and we need to also highlight the importance stewardship.
The communication tools mainly in the rural areas still dependant on the tradition way of doing things, including the traditional or tribal offices, meetings with the local farmers through the local agricultural advisors or state veterinary office. However, in towns and cities people are able to access and communicate effective using social media platform (Facebook, twitter and Instagram) etc . We will need to explore these platforms more to reach the younger generation.
We need to break the silo mentality and start to work together as a unit, therefore practicing one health system to the later. That is basically taking responsibility.
My name is Japhta Mokoele based at the University of Pretoria, Department of Production Animal Studies.
I am involved with the survey of Antimicrobial use and resistance in the pig farms in Gauteng. what I see is that the pig farmers want to solve all the problems with drugs and that is not how it should be.
We need do more veterinary extension work to help train farmers on the role of antimicrobials and when and how they need to be used. This need to be a coordinated work for all the professions within animal agriculture.
What is the biggest communication challenge related to AMR and inappropriate antimicrobial usage (AMU) in Africa?
In South Africa, we have two acts controlling AMR, mainly Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947) controlled the Department of Agriculture and The prescription only medicines in South Africa, is controlled by a second drug control act, known as the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965), administered by the Department of Health (DOH) i.e. the major difference between the Medicines Act and the Stock Remedies are restricted to veterinary prescription, while stock remedies are typically over-the-counter drugs.
The challenge is that most of these drugs (tetracyclines, sulphurs) are registered under act 36 and that is the challenge because this drug is sold by big cooperatives that are manned by people with less know how about the drugs.
My view is that we need to have this place employing para-vets or working with the veterinarians to assist with this important messaging on dosages, withdrawal periods and the best way of storing and usage of drugs at farm level.
Dr. Japhta Mokoele
Community leaders are important in message dissemination in various communities and therefore, they should be prioritised. The community leaders are also farmers and this is important in that this will change the way they perceive farming and the use of antimicrobials.
The use of social media remains important to cover the younger generation of farmers and to connect with all consumers.
We will need to also to target veterinary advisors like veterinarians and para-veterinarians, because they are the first like of defence in animal health and production related interventions.
Dr. Japhta Mokoele
We need to have social scientist to be part of the research on AMR. We also need to collaborate more with everyone in the media space, coaches and speakers to make this message easier to the public to understand. Sometime scientist deliver message in way that common people find it difficult to connect with.
We need to get public figures also to be involved as ambassadors of the antimicrobial use and resistance programme and we need to also highlight the importance stewardship.
The communication tools mainly in the rural areas still dependant on the tradition way of doing things, including the traditional or tribal offices, meetings with the local farmers through the local agricultural advisors or state veterinary office. However, in towns and cities people are able to access and communicate effective using social media platform (Facebook, twitter and Instagram) etc . We will need to explore these platforms more to reach the younger generation.
Dr. Japhta Mokoele
We need to break the silo mentality and start to work together as a unit, therefore practicing one health system to the later. That is basically taking responsibility.
Dr. Japhta Mokoele
Dear colleagues
My name is Japhta Mokoele based at the University of Pretoria, Department of Production Animal Studies.
I am involved with the survey of Antimicrobial use and resistance in the pig farms in Gauteng. what I see is that the pig farmers want to solve all the problems with drugs and that is not how it should be.
We need do more veterinary extension work to help train farmers on the role of antimicrobials and when and how they need to be used. This need to be a coordinated work for all the professions within animal agriculture.
What is the biggest communication challenge related to AMR and inappropriate antimicrobial usage (AMU) in Africa?
In South Africa, we have two acts controlling AMR, mainly Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947) controlled the Department of Agriculture and The prescription only medicines in South Africa, is controlled by a second drug control act, known as the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 1965 (Act No. 101 of 1965), administered by the Department of Health (DOH) i.e. the major difference between the Medicines Act and the Stock Remedies are restricted to veterinary prescription, while stock remedies are typically over-the-counter drugs.
The challenge is that most of these drugs (tetracyclines, sulphurs) are registered under act 36 and that is the challenge because this drug is sold by big cooperatives that are manned by people with less know how about the drugs.
My view is that we need to have this place employing para-vets or working with the veterinarians to assist with this important messaging on dosages, withdrawal periods and the best way of storing and usage of drugs at farm level.